Showing posts with label Historic Viaduct. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Historic Viaduct. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 5, 2016
Viaduct Footings: Take Your Trash With You When The Party's Over
Monday, February 8, 2016
Historic Viaduct Footings: It Took Effort To Dump Here
If you see someone dumping, anywhere: take a photo and/or get a license plate and vehicle description and call the non-emergency 1-877-ASK-LAPD and report it immediately. Stay on hold to report it, as dumpers are often serial dumpers. There may be other witnesses in other parts of the neighborhood.
The City will not pick up illegal dumping on private property. You may as well put this bike to good use, as it will be there for a while.
Click here for all our dumping posts.
Friday, January 1, 2016
Happy New Year!
Click here for what the trail on the Red Car Property looks like year round.
Friday, December 18, 2015
Historic Viaduct Footings: At Dawn, At Least Vandalism Has To Compete With The Sunrise
Saturday, October 17, 2015
Historic Viaduct Footings: Beat The Heat & Humidity, Take The Trail At Dawn
The Red Car Property is not a park, it just looks like one.
Wednesday, October 7, 2015
Historic Landmark Viaduct Footings: Sign From God?
Friday, October 2, 2015
Red Car Property: Not A Park, It Just Looks Like One
Monday, September 28, 2015
Historic Viaduct Footings: Dawn
Friday, June 19, 2015
Pacific Electric Viaduct Footings: Is This Any Way To Treat A Historic Landmark?
Historic Pacific Electric Viaduct: 60 Years Ago Today, End Of The Glendale Line
Photo: Loren Ayers, June 19, 1955. The Ayers family rode the Big Red Car Trolley across the Fletcher Viaduct on the last day of service in 1955. (Click on photo to enlarge.)
The Glendale Line opened in 1905 as an all wooden trestle bridge. In 1927. the center section was replaced with steel to accommodate the paving of Fletcher.
Friday, February 20, 2015
Tuesday, February 17, 2015
Friday, February 6, 2015
Historic Viaduct Footings: Silver Lake's Stonehenge"
*This post was originally published January 18, 2007. Links to later posts have since been added.
Ever wonder what those concrete blocks are on the hillside above the Arco Station at Riverside and Fletcher Drives in Silver Lake? Hope Urban, who grew up in the neighborhood, calls them “Silver Lake’s Stonehenge.”
What are those concrete blocks? Who put them there? What purpose did they serve? While many neighbors think of them as gravestones of failed Red Car Property developers, they’re actually a piece of Los Angeles History.
While the Fletcher Red Car Viaduct no longer exists, its concrete foundations stood silent vigil to the changing attitudes toward public transportation in 20th Century Los Angeles.
The Pacific Electric “Big Red Car” trolleys were a hugely popular means of transportation for Los Angeles, particularly among the neighborhoods on the Edendale and Glendale lines.
In 1904, L.C. Brand & Assoc. constructed the Fletcher Viaduct for Los Angeles & Glendale Electric Railway, then sold the Glendale Line to Pacific Electric in 1906.
The viaduct, or bridge, was huge: 453’6” long, and 40’9” high, of wood trestle construction. In 1927, a 97’ center section of the viaduct was replaced with steel, accommodating the paving of Fletcher Drive. Fletcher was also lowered; the viaduct then stood 61’ above the roadway.
The Pacific Electric Red Car created the horizontal development pattern for Los Angeles – the sprawl we have today. Everywhere a Red Car Line was planned, real estate speculators followed.
Locally, the Glendale and Edendale Lines brought settlement to the Ivanhoe Hills. Our Silver Lake neighborhood reflects the typical development pattern surrounding Red Car Lines. In the early part of the century, as soon as new Red Car lines were planned, real estate speculators bought up the land immediately adjacent to the tracks; carved it into tiny lots; sold the lots to working families to build their own homes.
Riverside Place is one such street where it’s not unusual to find 500 sq. ft. homes on 800 sq. ft. lots. Moving further out from the tracks, homes and lots get larger. The ensuing socio-economic diversity still surrounds the Red Car Property in Silver Lake today. Most neighborhoods adjacent to Red Car Lines were bulldozed for freeway construction. Thus, making our neighborhood unique.
Homes and neighborhoods were built with easy access to the Red Car stops, with public stairways and walkways instead of streets. In 1955, the Glendale Line was decommissioned and the tracks removed in favor of freeway construction. [The viaduct was dismantled in 1959, along with the viaducts at Riverside and Glendale Blvd.] Neighbors on Riverside Place voted to give up 10’ of their front yards so the City could pave the street to their homes. Today, many of those homes have no setbacks or driveways.
The Red Car Viaduct Footings are symbolic of changing attitudes toward public transportation in 20th Century Los Angeles. First, Southern Californians embraced the Red Car as an economical, efficient and popular means of public transportation. Mid-century, the Red Cars were forgotten in favor of automobiles and freeways. Late in the 20th Century, Southern Californians rediscovered the Red Car, studying a successful model of public transportation.
The Fletcher Red Car Viaduct Footings are more than just the foundation for a Pacific Electric bridge. The concrete blocks are a foundation for not only Los Angeles, but also the region. Settlers, real estate speculators and population growth followed the Red Car Lines, wherever they went.
In 2003, the Los Angeles City Council confirmed the action of the Cultural Heritage Commission, declaring the Fletcher Red Car Trestle Footings as Historic-Cultural Monument #770.
As one neighbor put it, “It’s an oddly beautiful testament to our community’s past. It’s a quirky kind of landmark that fits Silver Lake.” The Red Car Viaduct Footings bring a unique identity to our neighborhood.
Ever wonder what those concrete blocks are on the hillside above the Arco Station at Riverside and Fletcher Drives in Silver Lake? Hope Urban, who grew up in the neighborhood, calls them “Silver Lake’s Stonehenge.”
What are those concrete blocks? Who put them there? What purpose did they serve? While many neighbors think of them as gravestones of failed Red Car Property developers, they’re actually a piece of Los Angeles History.
While the Fletcher Red Car Viaduct no longer exists, its concrete foundations stood silent vigil to the changing attitudes toward public transportation in 20th Century Los Angeles.
The Pacific Electric “Big Red Car” trolleys were a hugely popular means of transportation for Los Angeles, particularly among the neighborhoods on the Edendale and Glendale lines.
In 1904, L.C. Brand & Assoc. constructed the Fletcher Viaduct for Los Angeles & Glendale Electric Railway, then sold the Glendale Line to Pacific Electric in 1906.
The viaduct, or bridge, was huge: 453’6” long, and 40’9” high, of wood trestle construction. In 1927, a 97’ center section of the viaduct was replaced with steel, accommodating the paving of Fletcher Drive. Fletcher was also lowered; the viaduct then stood 61’ above the roadway.
The Pacific Electric Red Car created the horizontal development pattern for Los Angeles – the sprawl we have today. Everywhere a Red Car Line was planned, real estate speculators followed.
Locally, the Glendale and Edendale Lines brought settlement to the Ivanhoe Hills. Our Silver Lake neighborhood reflects the typical development pattern surrounding Red Car Lines. In the early part of the century, as soon as new Red Car lines were planned, real estate speculators bought up the land immediately adjacent to the tracks; carved it into tiny lots; sold the lots to working families to build their own homes.
Riverside Place is one such street where it’s not unusual to find 500 sq. ft. homes on 800 sq. ft. lots. Moving further out from the tracks, homes and lots get larger. The ensuing socio-economic diversity still surrounds the Red Car Property in Silver Lake today. Most neighborhoods adjacent to Red Car Lines were bulldozed for freeway construction. Thus, making our neighborhood unique.
Homes and neighborhoods were built with easy access to the Red Car stops, with public stairways and walkways instead of streets. In 1955, the Glendale Line was decommissioned and the tracks removed in favor of freeway construction. [The viaduct was dismantled in 1959, along with the viaducts at Riverside and Glendale Blvd.] Neighbors on Riverside Place voted to give up 10’ of their front yards so the City could pave the street to their homes. Today, many of those homes have no setbacks or driveways.
The Red Car Viaduct Footings are symbolic of changing attitudes toward public transportation in 20th Century Los Angeles. First, Southern Californians embraced the Red Car as an economical, efficient and popular means of public transportation. Mid-century, the Red Cars were forgotten in favor of automobiles and freeways. Late in the 20th Century, Southern Californians rediscovered the Red Car, studying a successful model of public transportation.
The Fletcher Red Car Viaduct Footings are more than just the foundation for a Pacific Electric bridge. The concrete blocks are a foundation for not only Los Angeles, but also the region. Settlers, real estate speculators and population growth followed the Red Car Lines, wherever they went.
In 2003, the Los Angeles City Council confirmed the action of the Cultural Heritage Commission, declaring the Fletcher Red Car Trestle Footings as Historic-Cultural Monument #770.
As one neighbor put it, “It’s an oddly beautiful testament to our community’s past. It’s a quirky kind of landmark that fits Silver Lake.” The Red Car Viaduct Footings bring a unique identity to our neighborhood.
Thursday, February 5, 2015
SLNC History Collective: TONIGHT
Free Screening " Los Angeles The Early Days"
Learn more about the Red Car Property's run as a private right of way for the "Big Red Cars."
Thursday, February 5, 2015
Meeting starts at 6:30 PM
Screening: 6:50 PM
2411 Glendale Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90039
Monday, January 5, 2015
Riverside & Fletcher: Silver Lake Neighborhood Council Thinking About Cleaning Up
The Silver Lake Neighborhood Council (SLNC) is discussing how outreach to the community to clean up Riverside & Fletcher. Rapid gentrification can't be far behind.
The fact that it's a major commuter corridor doesn't help matters. As part of their effort to keep the district's neighborhoods safe & clean, City Councilmember Mitch O'Farrell's staff (CD13) along with the LA Conservation Corps has cleaned up the Riverside Drive sidewalks between Fletcher & Gilroy and Fletcher into Atwater fairly regularly for the past year.
Cleaning pastel paint off the vandalized viaduct footings will likely not be on the agenda at tonight's meeting. The viaduct footings are on private property. It's not a park, it just looks like one.
SLNC Joint Community Liaison & Outreach Committees
Monday January 5, 2015
7-9 PM
Neutra Institute Museum & Gallery
2379 Glendale Blvd, LA 90039
Friday, October 3, 2014
Red Car Property: At Least 2 Of 7 Dead Eucalyptus Cut Down Today
Thursday, August 28, 2014
Historic Pacific Electric Viaduct: Realigning Riverside Drive At Fletcher, 1928
Fletcher didn't exist under the viaduct when it was first built of all wood trestle construction in 1904. In 1927 the center section was replaced with steel & the roadbed lowered so Fletcher could be paved through from Atwater to Glendale Blvd in Silver Lake.
Riverside used to follow the curve of the slope more closely prior to paving. Note the flat dirt lot to the left across Fletcher. That would be the new alignment for Riverside Drive (compare with photo below).
Yesterday, LA Observed broke the news, LA City Dept of Engineering archive photos were coming online, on the LA City Historical Society website. The photos are a treasure trove of missing pieces from our neighborhood. So many hillsides, streets & homes disappeared when the 2 & 5 Freeways were built through our neighborhood, in addition to the channelization and concreting of the LA River, it is difficult to even recognize the some parts of the same neighborhoods today.
Over the past 20 years, we've collected neighbors' family photos, as well as historic photographs. So we'll bring you periodic historic updates to our collection with these newly discovered photos from the LA City Historical Society.
Saturday, June 21, 2014
Historic Viaduct Footings: Protectected Native Trees, California Black Walnuts
The City of Los Angeles' Protected Native Tree Ordinance includes Black Walnuts with trunk diameters as small as 2." Its intent was to protect dwindling native habitat in Hillside areas, as the trees are vital to native urban wildlife. They also thrive with just the small amount of rain (7.55") as we had this year.
Click here for the City's Protected Native Tree Ordinance 177,404
There's not much meat to the Black Walnuts but the squirrels sure like them. CalFlora & California Poison Control list the toxicity risk as "dermatitis."
Click here for our neighborhood's native plants.
Disclaimer: The Corralitas Red Car Property Blog prefers to quote reliable sources, such as CalFlora and California Poison Control on the issue of toxicity. We often get email suggesting some plants are edible. If you are eating your way through the Red Car Property, we DO NOT recommend you eat any plant you find in the Red Car Property neighborhood without first doing your own research.
Thursday, June 5, 2014
Historic Viaduct Footings: White Butterfly
Sunday, June 1, 2014
Historic Fletcher Viaduct: The Big Parade Will Walk Through History Today
Follow The Big Parade on Twitter as they work their way toward Griffith Park Observatory on Day 2.
